The Eiffel Tower was built to serve as an entrance arch to the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair). The Exposition celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution. Three men collaborated to design the Tower: Maurice Koechlin, Emile Nouguier, and Stephen Sauvestre. They were employees of the structural design company Eiffel & Co. The company was named for its founder, french civil engineer and architect Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. |
The Tower’s unusual design was very unpopular when it was unveiled. Several artists protested Eiffel’s design, calling it “a monstrosity.” One described it as a “tall skinny pyramid of iron ladders” and a “giant and disgraceful skeleton.” But after the Tower was built most of the critics changed their mind and praised the design. The Eiffel Tower has since been embraced as the symbol of a modern and elegant Paris. Eiffel Tower by Thomas Cucé For more than 120 years the Eiffel Tower has been a popular subject for artists. The students at Blue Church Art created their own unique versions of this famous French landmark during the month of February. Variations include the Eiffel Tower surrounded by fireworks, by blue sky and lush greenery, at sunset, at twilight, and looked at from some "unexpected" perspectives! Work by Kindergarten through Grade 3 students: click on any image to enlarge it Eiffel Tower art by students in Grades 4 through 12: Our neighborhood has a landmark tower, too! PP&L Tower by Sydney Dunbar The Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania (which includes the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton) has its own unique architectural landmark. The Pennsylvania Power & Light (PP&L) Building in Allentown is the tallest building in the area. Architect Harvey Corbett designed the “modern skyscraper” for PP&L in 1926. At the time of its completion in 1928, the 23-story PP&L Building contained the fastest elevators in the world! Like the Eiffel Tower, the top of the PP&L Building is brightly lit at night, and visible from miles around. One of my 7th grade students, Sydney, chose to do a painting of the lighted top of the PP&L Building instead of the Eiffel Tower. You don't need to go all the way to Paris, France to see a beautifully lit architectural landmark, because we have the PP&L Building right here in our own back yard!
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Blue Church Art
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